Swimming out and weightlifting doubtful for Vanuatu Mini Games 2017

​The Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 2017 Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu- Joe Carlo has reavealed that swimming is not on the cards and weightlifting is doutful for the event in Port Vila in two years time.

Carlo in his report to the Pacific Games Council (PGC) Annual General Meeting in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea yesterday said swimming one of the major attractions at any Pacific or Oceania meet is not on the programme.

“We had discussions with the Pacific Games Council executives on deleting swimming, there’s also a big question mark on  weightlifting because you know the small countries would like to have weightlifting because its their medal winning event.”

He also apologised to PGC Vice-president Marcus Stepen of Nauru whose country has won many medals from weightlifting.

14 sports will be competed for at the Vanuatu Mini Games.

The initial figures of over two thousand athletes were earmarked for the 2017 event but since Cyclone Pam the organising committee has had to decrease the numbers to one thousand eight hundred (1,800).

However, he assured the meeting that despite the devastation of Cyclone Pam the 11th Pacific Mini Games is going ahead as scheduled.

“The government’s approved that the plans go ahead, “ said Carlo of the Vanuatu Government’s commitment to honouring the host agreement it signed with the PGC.

He said that the Chinese Government will be helping build the main stadium which was demolished by Cyclone Pam.

Colleges will be used for accommodation of athletes.

PGC President Vidhya Lakhan reminded Carlo that they (Vanuatu) was racing against time.

“ I just want to remind you that 2017 is not too far away, we need to move ahead very smartly to make sure that all you’ve suggested to us will be made available to the Games and that you have sufficient time to complete those projects.”